'Slender Man' film accused of capitalising on murder attempt

Sony Pictures is trying to capitalise on a tragedy by releasing a movie starring horror character Slender Man, according to the father of one of two Wisconsin girls who attacked their classmate to please the fictional boogeyman.

Bill Weier, father of Anissa Weier, told The Associated Press he hopes local theaters won't show the movie when it's released in May.

"It's absurd they want to make a movie like this," Mr Weier said.

"It's popularising a tragedy is what it's doing. I'm not surprised but in my opinion it's extremely distasteful. All we're doing is extending the pain all three of these families have gone through."

Sony Pictures media relations officials didn't reply to two requests for a statement.

Morgan Geyser stabbed Payton Leutner 19 times. (AAP) ()

In 2014 Anissa and Morgan Geyser lured their classmate Payton Leutner to a wooded park in Waukesha, a Milwaukee suburb.

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Payton managed to crawl out of the woods to a path where a passing cyclist found her. She survived the attack.

One of the many doctored images circulating online purporting to show the mythical creature 'Slender Man'. (supplied) (supplied)

Anissa and Morgan told detectives they had to kill Payton to prove to Slender Man they were worthy of being his servants as well as protect their families from him. All three girls were 12 years old at the time of the attack.

Morgan, now 15, pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide in a deal with prosecutors, who have asked she get at least 40 years in a mental hospital when she's sentenced in February.

Anissa, now 16, was sentenced to 25 years in a mental institution last month after pleading guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide.

Anissa Weier has been sentenced to 25 years in a mental institution for the stabbing attack. (AAP) ()

Slender Man was created online by Eric Knudson in 2009 as a mysterious specter photo-edited into everyday images of children at play.

He's typically depicted as a slim figure in a black suit with a featureless white face that preys on children. He has grown into a popular boogeyman and has appeared in video games and online stories.

The Sony production, entitled Slender Man, marks the first full-length feature built around the character. The picture is directed by Sylvain White, who also helmed 2007's Stomp the Yard, and stars Javier Botet as Slender Man.

The studio released a trailer earlier today. It's unclear from the preview whether the movie will include any elements from the Wisconsin case, but in one scene a wall is covered with drawings of Slender Man, resembling sketches Morgan drew.

Other scenes show Slender Man stalking a girl in the woods and another girl seemingly under the control of the title character.

Morgan's attorney, Anthony Cotton, declined to comment on the movie. A spokesman for Payton's family didn't immediately reply to email and voicemail messages.

Slender Man has been cited as a factor in other crimes. Days after the Wisconsin stabbing, a 13-year-old girl in Hamilton County, Ohio, attacked her mother with a knife. The mother told WLWT-TV she thought the girl was obsessed with Slender Man. In September of that same year, a 14-year-old girl in Port Richey, Florida, set her house on fire. Sheriff's deputies said she started the fire after reading an e-book called Soul Eater and reading about Slender Man.